"Good things come slow -- especially in distance running"
Bill Dellinger former University of Oregon athlete and coach
We extend our Sunday long run today to 50 minutes. It is at a VERY FRESH effort. Remember today is mostly about time on your feet. Don't push it; just get the time in.
I wrote about Bob Schul a few days ago. In that 1964 Olympic 5000 Meter race that Schul won, Bill Dellinger finished third and won the bronze medal.
One of my favorite stories about Dellinger is how he trained on a beach in Alaska while he was stationed there in the military. He knew that for him to run a 60 second quarter mile it took a certain number of steps. So he counted his steps in the sand and trained often just doing 60 second quarter miles.
When he returned to Oregon and got on an actual track he found that he could cover a 60 second quarter mile in several steps less showing his fitness.
I love this story because it just shows the resourcefulness of dedicated athletes. Having coached at a school without a track for thirty years I know we can still so incredible things with the right mindset to training just like Dellinger did. Sometimes in life the obstacle is the way.
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